Do you think CNA is worth it?

[Ashtae220]

I am considering getting my CNA. Right now I work at a school as a 1:1 aide. I love my job but there is a huge chance my contract won't be renewed in June due to reduced student enrollment. I work with a student who has a shunt and seizures and previously worked at group homes where we helped to bathe, toilet, passed medications, delivered wound care, worked with bedpans, spoiled linens, etc. I did not mind that work so I think I might not mind being a CNA. It is very hard to get a school job, especially one that doesn't require that you do holds so I thought CNA might be the better choice, especially since I am still going for my bachelor's and CNA might provide me more flexibility.

However, I live in CT and would have to pay about 1000 for the training. I provide the majority of income for myself and my disabled husband, so I'd need to make at minimum 1420 monthly after taxes and my own health insurance. Is this possible because I don't want to invest money into a program and not be able to pay my bills? Also do you think I may be looking at CNA with rose colored glasses?

Thanks for the help!

[Missingyou, CNA]

Thank you for the advice, I live near Waterbury. There seems to be tons of CNA jobs available around here. Other people have told me 13-15 an hour is doable, but I want as much feedback as possible. I have worked in group homes before. The work isn't awful but I have found the people who work with me to be awful. I have seen a lot of abuse and a lot of abuse being covered up in this environment. Many people working who have no business working so I am wary of it. I make 1400 a month now only working 35 hours a week and don't want to downgrade from that to much so that's a big consideration.

Just like with group homes, there are really good nursing homes, and some really horrible ones.

You will run into this same type of abuse in nursing homes that you've seen in group homes. It can happen everywhere in places where people are dependent on others for care.

Also, you will be working with many more people. I've heard many stories on here about how the team work in nursing homes in non-existant. Again, of course, not every place is the same...but being a CNA in nursing home or even an assisted living facility is hard, stressful work. It's nothing like working 1:1. If you're someone who loves to work at full speed for a full 8 or 12 hour shift, you will be fine!

Not trying to discourage you. Just trying to give you a snap shot of what it's like working in a nursing home. It's not for everyone. I happen to work in a wonderful nursing home where we generally have great team work and I feel the residents get wonderful, dignified care. :)

[Beautiful_Soul]

Living on the border of CT and Rhode Island, with family in CT, I know the average pay for a CNA (in a nursing home)in the north east Connecticut is between $8.75 and $9.50 an hour. New Haven area is also about the same, I don't know about Hartford area, but can bet it is about the same.

It is difficult for a CNA in Northeast CT to find work, tho not impossible. (I've tried unsuccessfully for almost a year & I have +20yrs exp). It is just about impossible to get into a hospital which pays a bit more (but not by much), without at least 6 months experience as a CNA.

In Connecticut, you can work in home health care without being certified, but you will not be able to touch a patient. You will only be allowed to do household cleaning/meal prep/companionship and the pay is minimum wage or slightly higher with unpredictable hours.

I lived and worked in CT for many years.

I personally think you will be better off (in Connecticut) looking for work in group homes for mentally retarded adults. There is more work available, you won't have to pay for certification (group homes pay for your "training"). Working in a group home is much easier than working in a nursing home as it is typically 2 staff for 6 residents or less (in a nursing home it is 1 CNA to 10+ residents). Granted, you may end up working with physically aggressive residents, but you can ask if any of the residents in a home are "behavioral challenges" if you are uncomfortable working with them. (The home will provide you with training to safely deal with behaviors).

The pay is also much better working in a group home for retarded adults. Average pay is about $10. an hour. I worked for one that start pay was $11.50 hr. and after 4 years there, I was making $15 and hr.

Don't know what area of CT you are in, but in New Haven area group home agencies include SARAH ( 2 diffferent branches include SARAH/Tuxis & SARAH/Seneca, Vantage group and GoodWill industries and a few others. In Norwich/New London area there is Whole Life, Connecticut institute for the Blind/oak hill(yes, they are group homes for the mentally retarded even tho name implys for the blind)This agency is HUGE and covers most of the state.

Another possibility is working in an adult day care program or "Adult day Center", which is basically a day program for seniors who need supervision during the day. (average pay about $9. hr).

Check out indeed.com and search Group homes or day programs.

NOT for this pay, go get you a cute job at a retail store for way less stress and a perfectly aligned back :)